Refrigerating apparatus



Oct. 20, 1931. J. G. KING I REFRIGERATING APPARATUS I Filed Nov.

. uw, H l m//Ml/ flirter nujg .atented Oct. 20, 1931 srr JESSE G. KING, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNORQIBY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE,

nnrms'nna'rme .arr/Ananas application mea November 2o, 192s. serial No. 149345.

This invention relatesto cooling units for mechanical refrigerating apparatus and particularly to cooling units which are adapted to be installed in refrigerator cabinets of the I. 5 household type.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a cooling unit of simple and economical construction having provisions for freezing or congealing substances very quickly and also adapted to maintain the food compartment of the cabinet at the desired low tem-- perature.

My invention contemplates providing Ia cooling unit having, what may be termed, a freezing zone for quickly cooling or congealing a substance, and having, what may be termed acooling zone, which is adapted to insure the general refrigeration of the cabinet. In carrying out my invention I so construct and arrange the heat exchange means of the cooling unit, which may be formed of ducts or otherwise, that a portion thereof provides the freezing zone and another portion provides the cooling zone. I arrange the material providing the cooling zone so that it protects or shields at least three sides of the freezing zone fromthe warmer effect of the air or cooling medium which owsover the cooling unit in normal operation. My arrangement is such that although a relatively large protective cooling zone is provided for the freezing zone, the efectivo cooling action of the cooling zone portion is such that the refrigerator is maintained at the desired temperature. not too 'cold for general refrigeration. while at the same time the freezing zone functions to cool substances quickly.

It is another object of my invention to provide af cooling unit of the header and duct means type in which 'the duct means which provides the freezing -zone is distinct from the duct means which provides the cooling zone so that one is not influenced by the other to further the maintaining of di'erent temperatures of the zones.

Further objects and advantages of thel present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to 5o the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the refrigerator cabinet withits doors open to show the cooling unit construction in accordance with the- 'present invention. I

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional "view of refrigerator cabinet shown in Fig. 1

wall 21 is provided with a flue 26 through which cold air passes from the cooling compartment 24 to the food compartment 23. A baille plate 27 supported by the wall 21 directs moisture which drips from the cooling unit above, upon the upper surface of the wall 21 from which the moisture flows through aa drain pipe 28.

The cooling unit comprises an elongated header 30 which is supported within the coolingI chamber 24 by brackets 31 and 32. Liquified refrigerant is conducted from refrigerating apparatus (not shown) through a pipe 33 and a ittin 34 to the header 30, and an evaporated re rigerant in conducted from the header through pipes 35 and 36 tothe liquifying apparatus ofthe refrigerating y machine. A plurality of ducts `provided by looped pipes 40 of metal of good thermal conductivity form a freezing or loop section the primary purpose of which is to provi e a freezing zone. The loops of the section are each connected with the header 30 and cooperate therewith to enclose a 'freezing space 41 which is isolated from air which circulates through the chamber 24. The space 41 is adapted to receive one or more shelves or sleeves 42 of metal of good conductivity.' These sleeves are attached to and thermally connected to the ducts 40, and each is adapted to receive a metal tray 43 for containing matter to be frozen. As stated before, the walls of the header 3 0 and of the ducts 40 co-operate to impede circulation of air through the space 41 so that this space becomes much colder than other parts of'chamber 24. The frost which collects upon' the ducts 40 assists in" isolating the space 41.

In order to cool the air which circulates through the cooling chambei 24 the header 30 is connected with a plurality of looped pipes 45 of metal of good thermal conductivity, these pipes being spaced more remote from the freezing chamber than the pipes 40 and forming an air cooling section, the primary purpose of which is to cool the circulating air. In order to increase the circulation of refrigerant through the pipes 40 relative-.to the circulation of the refrigerant through the pipes 45 the latter are provided with restrictionsrepresented by the lines 46 in Figs. 4 and 5. Theserestrictions 46 are provided by smashing or squeezing together the walls of pipes 45 as indicated at 47. These restrictions may be exceedingly narrow, ifv

not zero width. Thus the yoke portions 48 of pipes 45 are isolated from the leg portions 49. Sincethe circulation of the refrigerant in pipes 49 is .impeded and the refrigerant may -be circulated relatively free through the pipes 40, "the rate of heat transfer through,

the pipes 40 will be greater than through the pipes 49. Hence the desired low temperature of the freezing space 41 will be reached in less time than if the pipes 45 were not restricted.

It is apparent thatmost, if not all, of the circulation of refrigerant in the pipes 45 -Will take place in leg portions 49 above the restriction 47. The yoke portions 48 will therefore operate as fins or thermal conductors l thebottom of these ducts.

which are thermally connected with the refrigerant ducts 49. While the restricted iiow of refrigerant in the ducts which will circu--- late air could be provided' by simply using ducts connected to the header and closed at their lower ends, the present'invention is ad# vantageous in that it obviates the necessity of soldering or hermetically closing the lower ends of such ducts. It is not necessary that the passage 46 be hermetically closed. The walls 47 may be squeezed together suiiiciently to provide a very narrow restriction. Any refrigerant which seeps from the leg portions 49-through the restrictions 46 will be received in the yoke portions 48 wherein it will evaporate and return through the passages 46. If, air cooling ducts closed at the lower ends were used and if the bottom enclosure should become defective some of the refrigerant of course would leak out through This fault is eliminated in the present invention since the air cooling ducts 49 areprovided by continuous loops of pipe.

By virtue of this construction it will lbe apparent that the cooling unit provides a relatively cold or freezing zone adapted for freezing or congealing a substance and a cooling zone which lies outwardly of at least three sides of the freezing zone, in the path of the circulating air. The ducts 45 bound or provide the cooling zone, and it will be seen that thelegs 49 and yoke 48 are in intimate thermal association with the air which flows downwardly over the'sides and under the cooling unit and that such air is cooled thereby to the desired temperature suitable for general cooling within the refrigerator. The portions 40being nested within the cooling zone enclosure, which extends throughoutthe length of the freezing zone, are protected by the cooling zone from the effects of the relatively' warm air circulating along th sides and .below the cooling unit, and it may be said therefore, that the material of the cooling zone provides, Ywithout lthe airv of additional means, a shield of heat-exchange material for shielding the freezing zone from the action of the circulating air. As previously` stated, the material of the cooling zone protects three sides of the freezing zone. Thls necessitates, of course, a relatively large cooling zone material surface. By means of' the restrictions 46, I materially reduce the effective coolmg action of cooling zone portion and in this manner the temperature of the storage compartments are maintained at the desired temperature, not too cold nfor general refrigeratlon, .while the freezing zone is maintained at a temperature for quickly freezing substances. Preferably the more or lessdormant refrigerant portion of the cool-l ing zone is provided, as shown, at the lower to the cooling action imparted to the downwardly'moving air, the differential of tem-I perature b etween the freezing zone and cooling zone. 1s small, and thel yoke portion 48 functionlng somewhat like a fin w1ll rovide at th 1s point sufficient protection or f the freezing zone from the circulating air.

The 'legs 49 may be braced together by metal strips 50 which are attached -to the lattenedportions 47 of pipes 45. If desired, the strip 50 may be made of metal of good heat conductivity and thermally bound to the legs 49 in order to'provide heat absorbing elements in addition to yoke portions 48.

While the form of embodiment of the present lnvention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims'which follow.

What is claimed is as follows: v 1. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprising, a header, a plurality of obstruct the flow of refrigerant in an intermediate portion of the loop, the intermediate portion providing a lin thermally connected with the refrigerant ducts.

3. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators comprlsing, a header, a plurality of pipe loopsconnected with the header and cooperating therewith to enclose a freezing space, and a plurality of pipe loops connected With the header and surrounding the loops which enclose the freezing'space, the second mentioned loops having restrictions for impeding circulation of refrigerant in said loops for the purposespeciiied.

4. A cooling unit according to claim 3, in which the second mentioned loops are provided With restrictions tending to isolate the yoke portions from the leg portions of these loops, the leg portions receiving refrigerant from t-he header and the yoke portions providing fins thermally connected with the leg portions.

5. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators adaptedto be placed in the path of the circulating medium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising heat-exchange means in intimate Contact with a refrigerant and with said medium to becooled, said. heat-'exchange means having a portion including duct means constructed and arranged to provide a freezing zone, and another portion including duct means providing a cooling zone, said second-mentioned portion having a restriction for obstructing the fiow of refrigerant therein, the maerial of the second-mentioned portion lying outwardly of the freezing zone in the path of the circulating medium and so constructed and arranged as to provide a shield of heat-exchange material for shielding the freezing zone from the action of the circulating medium.

6. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators adapted to be placed in the path of the .circulating medium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising heat-exchange means in intimate contact with a refrigerant and with said medium to be cooled, said heatexchange means having a portion including duct means constructed and arranged to provide a freezing zone, and another portion including duct means providing a cooling zone, means for obstructing the flow of refrigerant in the second-mentioned portion, the matei-iai of the second-mentioned portion ly- 7 A cooling unlt for mechanical refrigerators adapted to be placed in the path o-f the circulating medium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprisinga header, an inner refrigerant containing section including a set of loops connected with the header and providing a freezing zone adapted to receive an elongated ice tray, a second refrigerant containing section including a set of loops providing a cooling zone, said second set of loops being connected with the header in parallel circuit relation with the first set and lying outwardly of the freezing zone in the path of the circulating medium, said secondmentioned conduit means surrounding the freezing zone and constructed and arranged to shield the freezing zone, throughout the 'length thereof, from the action of the circulating medium.

8. A coolingl un1t for mechanical refrigerators adapted to be placed in the path of the medium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit comprising a header, an inner duct loop refrigerant containing section connected with the header and providing primarily a freezing zone adapted to receive an elongated ice tray, and another refrigerant containing. section connected in parallel circuit relation with the rst section and formed to provide primarily a cooling zone, the material of said second section lying outwardly of the freezing zone in the pathy of the circulating means and so constructed and arran` ed as to provide, Withoutthe aid of additlonal means, a shieldof heat-exchange material for shielding the freezing zone from the action of the circulating medium. l

9. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators adapted to be placed in the path of the medium to be cooled thereby, said cooling unit l comprising heat-exchange means in intimate contact with a refrigerant and with said medium to be cooled, said heat-exchange means having an inner refrigerant containing section constructed and arranged to provide primarily a freezing zone adapted to receive an elongated ice tray, and another refrigerant containing section providing primarily a cooling zone, the material of the secondmentioned section lying outwardly of at least three sides of the freezing zone in the path lof the medium and so constructed and arranged as to provide. without the aid of additional means, a shield of heat-exchange material for shielding at least three sides of the freezing zone from the action of the circulating medium.

10. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigerators adapted to be placed in the path of the 4 l Lem/,ele

circulating medium to becooled thereby said cooling unit comprising a header, an inner refrigerant oontainin section including a 4setof loops connecte with the header and providing primarily a freezing zone adapted to receive an elongated ice tray, a second refrigerant containing section includin a set of. .loops providin primarily a coo mgzone, said second-set o loops being connected with they Vheader in parallel circuit relation with the first set and lying outwardly ofthe freezing` zone in the path ofthe circulating medium, said ,second-mentioned conduit means being constructed and arranged to shield the freezing zone throughout the length thereof, from the action of the circulating medium.

1n testimony whereofI hereto 'alx my sig nature. Y

JESSE G. KING. 

